Improvement in gate-latches



J. J'. DEAL.

GATE-LATCH.

No. 186,715. Patented Jan.3 0,1877.

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INVENTI:

MPETERS, PHQTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHXNGTDN. D c.

NITED STATES- PATENT OFFI E.

JOSIAH J. DEAL, OF WILMOT, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN GATE-LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 86,715, dated January 30, 1877; application filed November 4, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH J. DEAL, of Wilmot, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate Latches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification My invention relates to an improvement in gate-latches; and it consists in a plate that is pivoted at its lower end, so as to swing freely forward as the gate is opened, and which catches under the fixed stud or projection on the gate, and lifts the gate upward as it swings shut. With this pivoted plate is combined a pivoted latch that closes down over the stud from above, and which passes through a loop on the upper end of the plate, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings represent my invention.

a represents the gate-posts, and c the gate, which is provided with a small fixed stud or projection, d, on its edge for engaging with the latch to hold the gate closed. Pivoted at its lower end, to the inside of the gate-post, is a plate, 6, which has a recessed shoulder in one edge, and a loop, g, formed on its upper ends, through which the latch '5 passes. The latch closes down from above over the stud d, so as to hold the gate closed, and has its outer end so formed as to act as a stop to prevent the plate 6 from falling too far forward when the gate is opened. This plate falls forward, as shown, so that the recessed shoulder is just on a level with the stud d as the gate swings shut. As the stud strikes upon the top of this shoulder the plate rises upward on its pivot, raising the gate with it until it assumes a perpendicular position by striking against the pivot-boltot' the latch i. The latch then prevents the gate from opening until it is raised upward.

It will be seen that the plate supports the whole weight of that end of the gate to which the latch is secured, so as to preventthe gate from sagging down or drawing the fence-post out of position.

As this gate-latch is constructed the gate cannot be opened by hogs or other animals by lifting from underneath.

In order to make the latch close quickly down over the stud d a wire spring, 0), is used, which holds it pressed downward all the time.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a gate-latch, the combination of the plate 0, pivoted at its lower end, and having the eye 9 through its upper for the passage of the latch i,-whereby the two parts are connected together, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the plate 0, pivoted at its lower end, and provided with the eye g, with the latch t, and spring 11, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of October, 1876.

JOSIAH J. DEAL. Witnesses:

J. P. SHUNK, WM. M. JOHNSTON. 

